Lanarkshire isn’t exactly on the tourist trail. People will go to Glasgow and Edinburgh, but there are a surprising number of attractions in Lanarkshire that most would drive by.
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Contents
Attractions in Lanarkshire
The following are the attractions in Lanarkshire that I visited. Hopefully, you’ll take the time to see them as well.
Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life
Most museums in Scotland are free, and the Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, is no exception.
Great for the whole family, Summerlee Museum offers a glimpse into the Scottish Industrial Age. There is a decent-sized car park, although it is always best to get there early, especially during school holidays.
Inside the exhibition hall, there are two floors of memorabilia from the past. Information boards and screens featuring “people from the past” provide insight into what life was like for them.
Outside, there are 20 acres of grounds to explore. You can walk down to the 1819 replica of the Vulcan and go on board to watch another film. Walking up the back of the museum will take you past green space before heading up the back of the lot.
Along with the museum exhibits, Miner’s Row is also worth exploring. Going into each cottage is like stepping back in time, as you see recreations of Lanarkshire homelife from the late 1800s through the 1980s.
There are gardens at the back of the 1940s cottages that show the wartime effort to grow for victory. One of them is an Anderson Shelter. Filming occasionally takes place here, so please check before visiting to ensure everything is open.
You can also take a tram ride or experience a mine tour while here. There is also a cafe where you can refresh yourself before the next stop.
Hours
Monday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm
10 am -5 pm during Easter Holidays, Summer Holidays and October School Holidays
Prices
Admission is free, and there’s no need to book online.
There is a small charge for the mine, tram and other voluntary activities.
Drumpellier Country Park
Not far from the Summerlee Museum is the Drumpellier Country Park. It is here that you can take a walk around the 500 acres of parkland, which has two natural lochs, woodlands, grasslands and moorlands. You can take the path around the loch or go off one of the side tracks to venture into the woods.
Along with the wildlife in the area, there is a well-established playground for the kids to play on.
The paths around the loch and woodlands are easy for anyone, including those in wheelchairs and prams.
The park has a large car park and cafe due to its popularity with families and dog walkers.
David Livingstone Birthplace
The David Livingstone Birthplace should be on your list to visit.
Starting from the building where he was born in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, this museum will take you through his adventures, with 3000 pieces of his collection for you to view. Kids will love the interactive adventures through his travels.
Everything you ever wanted to know or didn’t know you wanted to know about David Livingstone is here, so I would spend a good few hours exploring his life through the exhibit.
Hours
Daily, 10 am to 4:30 pm (last admission is 3:30 pm).
Tours will run at 11:00 on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
Prices
When visiting the David Livingstone Birthplace Museum, we recommend booking your admission ticket in advance whenever possible.
Click here to view prices and book your general admission and tour.
Bothwell Castle
Bothwell Castle is also not far from the David Livingstone Centre and is part of Historic Scotland properties.
Built in the late 1200s, it changed hands many times during the Scottish Wars of Independence.
Today, you can visit its ruins, but you can still see what an imposing building it would have been. It has a circular keep tower or donjon, which is currently undergoing renovations. You can usually go up and see the vistas surrounding the castle.
Hours
1 Apr to 30 Sept:
Daily except Sun & Mon, 9.30 am to last entry at 4.30 pm (closes 5 pm).
1 Oct to 31 Mar:
Daily except Thur & Fri, 10 am to last entry at 3.30 pm (closes 4 pm).
Closed for lunch from 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm.
Prices
Click here for prices.
- Historic Scotland Member (Valid membership required) Free
- Explorer Pass (Valid Explorer Pass required) Free
New Lanark
New Lanark is a fantastic place to visit. The history of the old cotton mills, stretching back over 200 years, comes to life here.
After you go through the main building, you enter the world of Annie McLeod. This ride features the ghostly Annie, who shares her life story and recounts what it was like to live in New Lanark, Lanarkshire.
After you’ve finished the ride, you can explore this vast area and its buildings. You can see the roof garden, Millworkers’ House from the 1820s and 1930s, Robert Owen’s House, the School for Children, and the Textile Machinery still in use today.
The cafe serves award-winning ice cream and other treats, and there is an extensive gift shop.
As well as exploring on your own, you could do one of the tours that operate during the day. From this, you’ll gain a deeper insight into how the mill operated and continues to operate today. The tour is included in your ticket.
After you have explored the mill and village buildings, you can still explore nature with a walk along the River Clyde.
Walking to the Waterfalls
Four waterfalls flow with great force down towards the township after a bit of rain. The track is 3 miles long from the village to Bonnington Linn. There is also a loop walk available for those with more time.
The track is easy to follow and well-formed, although it is steep and features stairs in certain sections. From April to June, you can watch Peregrines in the area. Walking past the Hydroelectric Power Station, you will see a badger mural on the wall.
You can stay overnight at the New Lanark Mill Hotel.
You can easily spend a day here exploring all that is on offer. If you stay overnight, you could glimpse the Lanarkshire wildlife on the Falls of Clyde walk in the evening.
Hours and Prices
Please click on the link for hours and prices, including parking details.
Arria
At 10 meters tall, Arria or Angel of the Nauld is a surprising sight along the M80. The first time you drive past, you can’t believe what you see as she is seemingly in the middle of nowhere.
You can get close to her. The easiest way is to find Eastfield Cemetery, and she is behind that. If you go all the way through the cemetery, you’ll find a small car park. From there, you have a couple of short paths that lead up to her.
She was sculpted by Andy Scott, who also created the Kelpies, and was named in a local competition.
There are also four other sculptures from various artists along the M8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh. I only saw one and took no photos, as it isn’t advertised or accessible from the motorway. I was lucky with Arria, although you won’t find any signs directing you there.
Conclusion
Surprisingly, more people don’t visit these attractions in Lanarkshire. With so much to offer, hopefully, you’ll add it to your list of places when you’re in Scotland and find the attractions in Lanarkshire as surprising as I did.
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I love all the historical buildings and places you can visit! I’d never heard of this place before, but it looks like so much fun! And how cool the museum is free to enter!
Most museums in Scotland are free, Andrea, and they all have something special to share with us.
Ooooh I have never visited Lanarkshire, but this all looks gorgeous! I especially love the look of the natural areas and the walk along the River Clyde.
We need to explore more of Scotland, so I’ll try to add this onto my radar next time we’re back in the UK. 🙂
p.s. I had no idea that David Livingstone was from Lanarkshire before I read this!!
I hope that when you visit Scotland, Josy, the David Livingston Centre will be open. It is promising to be worth the trip.
What a lovely post! I’ve been to Scotland once and loved everything about it! Lanarkshire seems like such a quaint and pretty town to explore. I love visiting the big cities but stopping at smaller ones like this off up a whole new experience!
You’ll have to come back to Scotland, Vanessa. There are many towns and villages in Lanarkshire for you to explore and fall in love with.
Been thinking of a highland holiday for a while now so I’m really enjoying your posts Kim!
Thanks, Gabby. I still have the Highlands to go, and it’s one of my favourite parts of not only Scotland but the world. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to do the NC500 but that should be on your list too.
A lovely place! The lake looks so tranquil and the Bothwell Castle is interesting.
Thanks, Mijia. Even on a Sunday morning when I went, Drumpellier Country Park is big enough to still be peaceful.
Bothwell Castle and New Lanark looks like a great place to visit for us. Especially the waterfalls on Clyde River 😍. Definitely make more time if going there se we could do the whole hike.
You would love walking alongside the Clyde, Sabina, and I would have done the whole walk if I had time.
To my shame I don’t know enough about Scotland. This looks lovely. One of these fine days I need to rectify this.
I hope you do find yourself in Scotland one day, Karen, but make sure that you spend enough time here to see it all.
Really enjoyed reading your post and am looking forward to visiting in person soon. Recently discovered I have ancestors from Lanarkshire!
Wow, that’s great, Patrice, I hope you get to spend a bit of time there and see all the sights.
Looks like a lovely place to explore. I have heard of Lanarkshire before but have never travelled to Scotland. I’m more of a outdoorsy type but I do love the old buildings and appreciate the history more now that I am older! The award winning ice cream also sounds good 😛
The ice-cream is delicious, Lauren and great to have after the Falls of Clyde walk which you would enjoy.
This place looks so pretty! I love these old buildings and the water running past them 🙂
It is a beautiful spot, Josefine. You’ll have to visit there sometime.
I am originally from Glasgow and I have only been to a few of these place, but will definitely have a better look when I go back home.
I’m glad that you found it interesting, Larch. I want more time to explore your beautiful country, as there is so much to see.